"Many times we have to depend on mayors to make the critical decisions for everyday people right at the ground level, and Mayor Maddox has been doing that for years," Woodfin said about the four-time elected mayor who is now running for governor as the two stood outside Birmingham's $30 million intermodal facility. "If he can do for what he's done in Tuscaloosa in improving people's quality of life regardless if the area is urban, rural or suburban, then he can do that across all 67 counties in the state of Alabama. And that's why I'm happy to stand with and support him."

Woodfin said that Maddox has influenced how he governs Birmingham.

"Walt's ability to convince people to work together - black and white, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican - has inspired how I seek to lead Birmingham to a new era of excellence," he said.

Maddox said that Woodfin represents a new kind of leader focused on economic, social and environmental justice and transparency and accountability.

"Mayor Woodfin is a leader who believes all those things and I am honored beyond measure to have his endorsement," Maddox said. "As governor, Mayor Woodfin is going to have a partner in Montgomery and he is going to have a partner in me, personally."

Maddox is facing former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, ex-Alabama state Rep. James Fields and two other candidates in the June 5 Democratic primary.

Woodfin said it was important for him to back Maddox before the primary contest instead of sitting out the election and endorsing whichever Democrat won the race.

"We've had enough elected officials being timid for political safety reasons. Sometimes you got to go with your gut, sometimes you have to take risks and sometimes have to do what you know is right," he said. "It was never my intent to sit on the sidelines. The residents we want to serve deserve elected officials that are willing to do the right things even if they are unpopular."